Capstone project, autumn 2022 — Forgotten place in Hanasaari, Espoo
INTRODUCTION
Set in Karhusaari, Espoo, the project focused on a paradoxical site where a historic seaside villa contrasts with the nearby motorway and urban edge.
In collaboration with the City of Espoo, we developed new programmatic and urban design ideas for this unique holiday villa site at the border between Espoo and Helsinki, where a 19th-century building with sea views meets the Länsiväylä motorway.
The task offered opportunities to work at the intersection of spatial programming, sustainability, adaptive reuse, retrofit, urban regeneration, and real estate development.
Today, the site’s buildings are rented by the city to artists as workrooms and used for events such as weddings and meetings in the villa. The courtyard housing building (Hevosmiehen talo / Horseman’s House) is home to the Pro Karhusaari association.
